I'm New and Need Help Finding a Bike

Me and my brother picked up some 'Next' bikes at Wal-Mart, but as you can predict they were pieces of crap so we took them back. Then we went to Academy Sports and picked up some better bikes. But I have a problem, I wasn't paying attention and picked up some cruiser bike, and I was wanting a TRAIL BIKE. My cousin and brother picked up a nice Huffy Trail Bike.

But now we're taking them back. We rode them on a bike trail near our area. My bike isn't for trail rides and I was sliding everywhere (no grip on the tires), and my cousin's Huffy bike sprockets were coming loose, and my brother just wants a better one.

Is that a good bike? If not, they got one at Dicks that my brother is getting, a "Men's Response XE" and it is a "Diamondback Bicycle" for $270, originally it was $549.99 though (50% off). I might get it if my brother gets it.

What would you suggest? Pacific good enough, or no? Better to get the Diamondback? Or better to get something else entirely? I am new to trail biking, and this is the first 3 days we've ridden a bike since we were about 14 (I am 19 now).

You get what you pay for. A $79. bike is going to fail pretty quickly. The bikes at Dicks are a definite step up from NEXT, Pacific and Walmart style bikes. I bought that Diamondback for my daughter @5 years ago. It is a serviceable bike. She hardly ever rides trails, but it scoots around town to her friends houses pretty well.

Quality costs, especially on new bikes. Have you checked out Craigslist for your area?

I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!

You get what you pay for. A $79. bike is going to fail pretty quickly. The bikes at Dicks are a definite step up from NEXT, Pacific and Walmart style bikes. I bought that Diamondback for my daughter @5 years ago. It is a serviceable bike. She hardly ever rides trails, but it scoots around town to her friends houses pretty well.

Quality costs, especially on new bikes. Have you checked out Craigslist for your area?

Thanks a lot. I got the $275 Diamondback, ended up being $291, plus my kickstand about $7.99. Seems like a good bike, and Dick's even let me keep it up there so a bike expert could run everything and make sure it is okay. I might pick it up tomorrow.